February 2017
February 2017   


Rail Express - February 2017

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Issue No. 249 February 2017 CONTENTS

8 HEADLINE NEWS
New Year brings little cheer; Stadler wins contract
to supply Merseyrail’s new fleet; Colas acquires
‘67s’; Virgin gets West Coast extension; Class 319
to go bi-mode; Wabtec loco for Hong Kong; Step
forward in ‘50’ preservation; ORR looks at train
dispatch; GWR ‘57’ rescues clay train; Engine fire
scuppers Class 230 trial; Freight train to China.

14 FIRST UK-BUILT IEP UNVEILED
Bi-mode No. 800005 was shown off at Newton
Aycliffe, as Siemens opened a depot in Hornsey
and a new shed at Millerhill takes shape.

18 ‘GRID’ PATTERN WORKING
Lee Davies recounts when he began working Class
56-hauled coal workings around the North East.

22 INSIDE LORAM
The Engine Shed Society held its recent annual
general meeting at Loram in Derby, allowing a rare
view inside this fascinating facility.

24 0-60: CLASS 319
The ageing units are now plying their trade in the
North West, but how hard are they being worked?

27 THEN & NOW: ELECTRIFICATION
Two fascinating images showing how working
practices have changed in the last 40 years.

28 REVIEWS
New books on Seventies Spotting Days, Night
Trains of British Rail, and Railway Police.

29 EXPRESS MAILBAG
‘Nightstar’ stock in Canada and Washwood Heath.

30 TIME TRAVELLER
Looking back to news from Februarys gone.

72 RAILTOURS
Last minute gauging issue scuppers Class 31 tour;
‘Western’ problem rules it out of anniversary tour.

74 PRESERVATION
Butterley ‘Chopper’ sold to CVR group; East Lancs
announces diesel roster; Class 03 hired for movie
role; More ‘08s’ snapped up for heritage use.

78 LU WORLD
Wheelflats cripple Piccadilly Line services.

79 POWER BY THE HOUR
DRS ‘20s’ returned to store after RHTT season
ends; Sleeper ‘ED’ damaged in depot bump.

80 POWERSCENE
Our class-by-class round-up of notable workings.

91 SHUNTER SPOT
DB Cargo ends shunter operations.

92 UNITARY AUTHORITY
First Class 345, 385 and 707 units delivered.

94 COACH COMPARTMENT
DB ‘air cons’ moved to Thornton Yard.

95 WAGONS ROLL
GBRf orders biomass hopper fleet.

96 IRISH ANGLE
Santa specials deliver diesel haulage.





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